Union bemoans ‘shameful’ pensions of eastern professors

Ex-DDR academics who were denied tenure need better compensation, university association says

The German University Association (DHV) has expressed dismay at the failure of many east German states to fix the low pensions of professors formerly employed in the DDR.

The so-called “gap professors” worked in the DDR and retired between 1995 and 2005. Because of their advanced age at the time of German reunification, they were denied tenure and are now receiving lower-than-average pensions, the union said.